Hans Schleef was born on 19 July 1920 at Groß-Börnecke
near Magdeburg in Sachsen. In autumn 1940, Schleef was posted to JG 3 based
on the Channel front. Unteroffizier Schleef was assigned to 7./JG 3. He
claimed his first victory on 5 February 1941, when he shot down a RAF Hurricane
fighter near St Omer, and his second on 31 May, when he claimed a RAF Blenheim
twin-engine bomber shot down. Operating over the Eastern front, Schleef
enjoyed considerable success. He claimed 14 victories in July, including
two enemy aircraft shot down on 15 July to record his ninth and 10th victories.
On 4 August, Schleef claimed three Russian I-16 fighters shot down (19-21).
He recorded his 30th victory on 19 March 1942. On 7 April, Schleef was
shot down and baled out behind enemy lines. He successfully evaded capture,
returning to his unit four days later. Feldwebel Schleef was awarded the
Ritterkreuz on 9 May 1942 for 41 victories. Schleef was transferred to
Ergänzung-Jagdgruppe Ost for a spell of instructing in May 1942. Leutnant
Schleef returned to front line duty in January 1943 with 7./JG 3, still
based on the Eastern front. On 4 April, he recorded his 60th victory. Schleef
claimed four Russian LaGG-3 fighters shot down on 30 May (66-69). His 70th
followed on 2 June. Schleef again shot down four enemy aircraft on 5 July
(76-79). He was shot down in Bf 109 G-4 (W.Nr. 14 941) after shooting down
his first opponent on 5 July, making a forced-landing in his own lines.
He returned to his unit and shot down three enemy aircraft with a replacement
aircraft later that same day. On 6 July, Schleef claimed his 80th victory
followed by his 90th on 30 July. In early August 1943, 7./JG 3 was relocated
to the Western front to undertake Reichsverteidigung duties. Schleef had
93 victories to his credit at this time. He shot down his first four-engine
bomber, a USAAF B-17, on 12 August. Schleef was shot down in Bf 109 G-6
(W.Nr. 20 444) “White 4” on 17 August. On 15 October 1943, Oberleutnant
Schleef was appointed Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 3. He recorded two further
victories with this unit, both USAAF fighters: one on 22 February 1944;
the other on 8 March. However, on 23 March, Schleef taxiied his Bf 109
G-5 (W.Nr. 110 215) “Yellow 4” behind a He 177 twin-engined bomber just
as the pilot applied full power. The slipstream flipped Schleef’s aircraft
on to its back. Schleef was rescued by ground staff suffering only minor
injuries; although he was unfit to fly for several days. Schleef was transferred
as Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 5 on 21 July 1944. In October 1944, 8./JG 5
was redesignated 16./JG 4. Schleef was shot down and killed in aerial combat
near Bad Durkheim in Bf 109 G-10 (W.Nr. 490 758) “Blue 4” on 31 December
1944.
Hans Schleef was credited with 99 and at least two
unconfirmed victories in over 500 missions. He recorded 91 victories over
the Eastern front, including fiveteen Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Of his eight victories recorded over the Western
front, two were four-engine bombers.